Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office. Photo: VCG

The Chinese mainland is closely monitoring movement of Taiwan island's military authority around Kinmen. If they provoke or cause trouble, daring to act rashly, they will surely face failure, Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Wednesday in response to reports that Taiwan island will conduct live-fire drills in April in locations including Kinmen and Lieyu. 

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities recently announced that live-fire drills will be conducted in April in locations including Kinmen and Lieyu, sparking concern across the local community. The island's military authority claimed that these actions are part of routine and regular training exercises, without any specific targets.

Whether it's "routine training" or "targeted provocation," DPP authorities know better than anyone. The people in Kinmen, having personally experienced the transitions between peace and war, value peace and oppose war even more, Chen said. 

They have already made the right choice between "opening fire" and "building bridges." We are closely monitoring the movement of Taiwan island's military authority in Kinmen. Should they provoke or cause trouble, daring to act rashly, they will surely face failure, the spokesperson noted. 

On February 14, a fishing boat from Fujian was violently chased by Taiwan authorities in waters near Kinmen, causing all four people on board to fall into the water. Two of them died. The DPP authorities on the island of Taiwan have been condemned for improperly handling the incident and for illegally harassing mainland fishermen. 

The mainland coast guard has been boosting its law enforcement patrols in the waters near Kinmen after the fatal February 14 boat incident. 

The State Council Taiwan Affairs Office also said earlier that the mainland firmly supports the law enforcement patrols implemented by the mainland coast guard authorities in waters near Kinmen, as they are legitimate actions to maintain order in the relevant maritime areas. 

Also, on March 18, the Fujian coast guard reportedly found a distressed fishing boat in the waters of Weitou bay and rescued two people, both from Kinmen. One of two men surnamed Wu has been sent back to Kinmen on March 22. 

The spokesperson said the relevant departments are further verifying the situation. Once the situation is verified, appropriate action will be taken regarding another individual.



Global Times